Iran Chief Negotiator Stands Firm on US Talks Red Lines

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has reiterated that talks with the United States will adhere to Iran’s “red lines”. In remarks published by the official IRNA news agency, Ghalibaf stated, “As we have shown in the past path of negotiations, we are steadfast in fulfilling the conditions and red lines set, and in achieving the interests of the Iranian nation.”

The memorandum of understanding signed this week between Tehran and Washington ended a regional war that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei approved the deal despite having “different views”, without elaborating.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said foreign policy would be used to secure Iran’s interests, while President Masoud Pezeshkian signed off on adherence to red lines. The agreement lays groundwork for 60-day negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief but the timing of final talks remains unclear.

Critics in Iran expressed skepticism about the deal, with some arguing that Tehran could be giving up leverage without securing compensation or sanctions relief. Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of Kayhan newspaper, said, “The Americans do not honour any commitments, they have not been loyal to any agreements.”

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for Iran’s national security commission, objected to reports of UN watchdog inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities, while lawmaker Hosseinali Shahriari expressed disapproval that the deal bypassed parliamentary approval.